MG Midget Forum

I may be towing a '75 Midget next weekend using a Tow Bar (about 250 miles). Is it necessary to disconnect the drive shaft? Is it necessary to disable the steering wheel? Thanks in advance.

You'll want to unlock the steering column at the very least. be careful with tow bars. I had one slip on an MGb I was towingand it got jammed up inside one fender and destroyed it.

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Seth Jones

1971 MG Midget

www.SpridgetGuru.com

I towed a '68 from Pennsylvania to Tennessee. I took off the drive shaft but that's it. It made the trip without incident.

I TOWed an MGs more time than I want to say – Most times were short and done with a chain (not legal most places) but, picking up a disabled car we get things done. Just towed my Midget 475 miles last month – used a two dolly, Now convention says to disconnect drive shaft – But, I did not, Why well I put the drive wheels on the dolly! Tied the steering wheel – Put the key in it! (It locks) Why, well the odds that you lock it in line is ZERO! If you hit a bump pothole you will mess up the key lock!! OOPS !! Using a Tow Bar Is not a bad way to go! Do tie the Steering wheel Just to keep it within 5 or 15 degrees of straight – should track straight – it’s a real ***** it you lock it just to left or right then it’s will push you out of line the hole trip, Yes I learned that the hard way in ’81. That was a 120-50 mile tow and I did not disconnect the drive shaft did keep under 45 most of that trip – cold rain high temp was 35, and crap that night!!. Now the Drive Shafts, well I have yet to have one pop into gear! YET ! it does happen herd of it and it’s hard to prevent – it going to happen on a rough road – so, if slow on them and most of your trip is good roads just take your time better to keep under 45 or 55 Don't take any chances over 60mph than to have to replace a transmission and have major body work too and that may be a good end!. One thing about my ’75 The ‘rubber bumpers’ The front is not the best attachment for towing – I.E. you could pull it off the car!! I been thinking if I going to two with a Tow Bar I would be asking my brother to make me some brackets to bolt to the frame (Front tow eye replacements) to connect thing to. Keeping the chains short and close is best! Just long enough to turn a 90. Keeping thing tight up in the event things do go West when driving North Less slack less damage! TAKE YOUR TIME !! Check and re-Check! I broke/lost the tow ball on the Frontier the last time – No Ball dragging on the chains – Got Lucky ! Good Luck!

You won't damage the transmission by towing with the driveshaft connected and the rear wheels down, but you WILL create unnecessary wear that may shorten its life.

This is easy to do, with hand tools.

1) Jack up one side of the car (or the center of the rear end), and put jackstands under the front of the rear spring mounts. Lower the jack.

2) Mark the driveshaft flange and the rear pinion flange so you can them put back together in the same alignment as it comes apart.

3) Remove the four bolts/nuts that join them.

4) Tie the driveshaft up and out of the way with coat hanger wire, etc. Don't remove it or you will have to cover the back end of the trans so all its fluid doesn't leak out.

Then, as Seth said,

Unlock the steering column with the key so the front wheels are free to turn.

I suggest you turn the 4 way flashers on while towing.

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to paraphrase Mark Twain:

. . . . . "I never learned anything when I was typing! . . . . .

Mike J. ---
Thanks for the well-thought-out response.
I assume that the front plastic bumper will have to be removed and then the tow bar bolted in place.

Looking forward to the adventure...

Mike

just thinking out loud…

with the light weight of the mgs, just about any trailer loaded with MG would be under the max weight of a vehicle that could tow a mg w/ a tow bar. It seems much safer to use a trailer than a tow bar. why risk it?

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Jaysen
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MadGe -- 1975 MG Midget for fun and driving the Mrs around.
Annabelle -- Wife's 2014 Chevy Volt parts getter for MadGe (and to make up for all the gas I burn).

U haul doesn't charge much for those two wheel dollies. However, find a dealer that rents the ones with adjustable tracks so you can narrow it down to Midget size. Otherwise you are talking about your car's wheels straddling the tracks and possibly shifting when hitting a bump.

Because no oil is splashing around in neutral you can dry out the shaft bearings on a long trip. Short distance no problem, long distance, remove drive shaft. I use a trailer for these cars, just a 10" lawn trailer is good enough.

Got a Home Depot on both ends of the trip? Next week marks the one year anniversary of my trip to East Tennessee to pick up Robinette. For $59 and unlimited mileage I threw the Midget up on one of their flatbeds and dropped the truck off near my house 6 hours later.

As long as the drive shaft is connected, the 3rd motion shaft is turning which would turn the 2nd motion shaft and they both have gears that would be turning slinging oil. If they were not turning then you would not be worried about the bearing because they are also not turning.
I do agree with trailering it. I just don't trust flat towing and renting a trailer is cheep insurance.

I've had a tire blow out on a U Haul trailer that was not inspected before it was rented to me. It added 2 hours to a one hour towing trip. However, the deal with Home Depot is exemplary in terms of roadside assistance. I would do it again the same way, or borrow my friends Complimentary trailer. This is the scene from yesterday afternoon on one of our picker excursions....

Think about it, if all is in neutral the shaft spins inside the gears, all gears are stopped unless the engine is running.

Phillip we both seem to have deferent ideas, but it's alright to defer.
We do agree that trailering is the why to go.

Phillip would you try something for me? Jack up the rear of your car put it in neutral and start the engine then tell me if your rear wheels go around or do they stand still. If they don't turn then I will agree with you.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-10-20 03:56 PM by ronlcraven.

Just think about it. 4th gear is fixed to the first shaft and cannot turn with the engine off and clutch engaged, if It can't turn neither can any others.